Court restrains misuse of domain name linking to pornographic content to protect Lupin's reputation
In a significant legal development, the Delhi High Court, presided by Justice Jyoti Singh, has granted an ex parte interim injunction in favor of Lupin Limited against Chhian Sokchea and others. The injunction addresses the misuse of Lupin's QR code that was intended to promote eye donation awareness but was found redirecting to a website hosting explicit content. This decision follows Lupin's plea for urgent relief citing reputational harm.
The case revolves around Lupin Limited, one of India's leading generic pharmaceutical companies, which discovered in February 2026 that QR codes on their ophthalmic product packaging, intended to direct consumers to eye donation information, were instead redirecting to a website displaying pornographic material. This misuse was attributed to the domain www.ebai.org, initially managed by Defendant No. 5 as part of a CSR initiative with Lupin. However, after the passing of a key director, the domain was acquired by an unknown third party, leading to its misuse.
Upon verification, Lupin blocked the sale and manufacture of the affected products and filed complaints with relevant authorities. Despite these efforts, the issue persisted, prompting Lupin to seek an urgent court intervention to prevent further damage to its brand image.
Justice Jyoti Singh, in her judgment, acknowledged the urgency and irreparable harm posed by the misuse of the QR code. The court relied on precedents set by the Supreme Court and Delhi High Court to grant Lupin exemption from Pre-Institution Mediation under Section 12-A of the Commercial Courts Act, 2015. The court found a prima facie case favoring Lupin and issued directions to restrain the usage of the domain name www.ebai.org, disclose registrant details, and suspend or delete the domain.
The court's order restrains Defendant No. 1 and associated parties from using the domain name and directs Defendant No. 2 to provide Lupin with complete registrant details within two weeks. Additionally, Defendants No. 2, 3, and 4 are instructed to suspend, disable, or delete the domain within 36 hours of receiving the order.
Lupin Limited, recognized globally for its pharmaceutical products, has been proactive in corporate social responsibility initiatives, including the eye donation campaign linked to its ophthalmology segment. This legal intervention underscores the importance of protecting brand reputation and consumer trust amidst technological misuse.
The case will continue for further legal proceedings on May 13, 2026, while Lupin complies with the court's procedural requirements under Order XXXIX Rule 3 CPC.
Bottom line:-
Commercial Courts Act, 2015 - Exemption from Pre-Institution Mediation under Section 12-A can be granted where urgent relief is prayed for, as per relevant precedents.
Statutory provision(s):
Commercial Courts Act, 2015, Section 12-A; Trademark Law; Civil Procedure Code, 1908, Order XXXIX Rules 1 & 2
Lupin Limited v. Chhian Sokchea, (Delhi) : Law Finder Doc id # 2889716
